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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says Leigh Griffiths may have longer wait for start

Moussa Dembele celebrates with Leigh Griffiths after netting the winning goal against Rangers
Image: Moussa Dembele celebrates with Leigh Griffiths after netting the winning goal against Rangers

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says star striker Leigh Griffiths may have to wait longer for his chance to return to the starting line-up.

Scotland international Griffiths has not started a game for club or country since aggravating a hamstring injury against Aberdeen on August 27 with Moussa Dembele taking on the mantle of Celtic's main goalscorer.

But Griffiths has joined Dembele for the latter stages of the last five matches, including Sunday's 1-0 win over Rangers.

"It's something that worked well for us in the game," Rodgers said ahead of Wednesday's trip to Dingwall to play Ross County. "It just depends on the game.

Celtic's Moussa Dembele celebrates his goal
Image: Dembele has been starting ahead of Griffiths this season

"I'm not worried by the individuals. I've got great individual players, the job of myself and the coaching staff is to pick the best team, and the best team is going to get us the results. Up until now, it's gone okay.

"Whoever plays, they are asked to do the job and thus far they have been doing it very well."

Rodgers has been fairly consistent with his team selection in recent weeks, but he has been impressed with the way his fringe players have stepped in when required.

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"I have said all along that it really will be about the squad this season," Rodgers said. "And Sunday was a great example.

"Recently Leigh hasn't played so much, Stuart Armstrong hasn't played so much, but they came straight into the game and picked up the tempo and the speed of the game straight away.

Leigh Griffiths of Celtic celebrates a goal with manager Brendan Rodgers
Image: Leigh Griffiths (L) won't be shoe-horned into starting XI, says Brendan Rodgers (R)

"And that's because they are working tirelessly in training, there is a real intensity into how they have been working. That gives them every chance to come into a game and perform really well.

"If we didn't have that and we didn't have the collective spirit here for the team to do well, then it would probably make it harder for us.

"But the players who haven't been playing have been a great credit to the image we are trying to create here collectively. They will get the benefits of that over the course of the season." 

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